Hey guys and gals!
This is my Jeep story.
First, a bit of history. I bought my very first Jeep in 2012. It was a 1965 tuxedo park mark 4 cj5 mud buggie. 40” tires, 6” leaf over lift, ford 302 small block. Thing was a beast. I bought it to fix up and play with. Turned out to be more than I had time, money, or skills for. I decided to sell it, and I’d buy something a bit newer and street worthy.
I looked around for awhile, and the YJ’s seemed a bit more inside my budget. So I waited... and saved my money lol! Why they designed a Jeep with those hideous square headlights are beyond me
Fast forward to mid 2015, I finally gathered the funds for my first TJ. 3” lift, 33” tires. Didn’t have it long enough to learn a damn thing about it. 3 months go by, rolled it going down the highway. Totaled it.
About a year later (2016) I decided it was time to try again. Searched for awhile. I knew I wanted something already lifted, with good tires, and as low miles as I could get for my budget. As this would also serve as my DD. After watching relentlessly on my local Craigslist, this Jeep seemed to be the “the one”. Plus it had EVERYTHING I was concerned with as a newbie. New wheels with new 35’s, new 4” lift, newer soft top, no “pep boys” mods. Stretched my budget and came up with $9,500 cold hard cash ( thats quite a feat for a floor covering installer in just a few months). Drove the 4 1/2 hours to look at it. By my “supreme rookie Jeep knowledge” it was perfect!! Shiny new wheels and tires. Tub was in great shape except in two small places, and center body mount channels were starting to go. Nothing too serious. Rear corner and passenger rocker panel had a touch of rust and a couple tiny bubbles in the paint. SOLD!!
little clean up after a new radiator.
Over the next couple of years I didn’t do much to it. Just regular maintince and drove the wheels off it. I didn’t do any off-roading to speak of. Some service trails, putting through the woods on a friends property, and of course playing in the winter snow.
Even to my rookie knowledge, it was not ready to be off-road yet. No recovery points, no winch, ect ect. The only thing I had done this far is a new knock off bumper. I internally wired the factory fog lights into the bumper to keep the look clean.
Even my pooch battled me for the driver seat.
Then one day it begins... the point where you start finding out that you should do your homework before buying something totally different than what your used to.
I hear a strange clunking noise Every time I hit a small bump. What could that be I wonder? Crawl under it
rear lower control arm frame bracket rotted off. Immediately, I take it to a local fab shop (friend of mine) to have it welded back together. Shop welds it, and tells me, my frame is getting pretty thin back there, but he got it to hold well enough to get by for awhile. “May last 6 months or 2 years”, he tells me. Basically, your living on borrowed time.
Not heeding the seemingly obvious warning, I continue to drive it. About a year later this:
So I take it back to the same shop. Tells me he would fix the frame for cheap. 3/16” steel would be used. It wouldnt be perfect but it would be a good enough patch to last until I decided to put a new frame under it. Quickie slickie kind of thing. It wouldn’t be the prettiest frame ever, but it would be solid. Sounded good to me.
I get it back from the shop, and I start spending money. I figured first up, let’s get the rain back outside. New Bestop Trecktop NX
Next up is to deal with the awful bumpsteer. So a stock pitman arm to replace the drop pitman arm, Currie Currectlync, and Currie adjustable track bar were next.
Bumpsteer cured!
Next on my list was to break out the angle grinder and wire wheel. The frame is now solid again, better give her some protection!
Along with all new ball joints, motor mounts, transmission mount, and a new set of 4 Rancho 5000x shocks. This is where she sits today.
A couple months ago I decided to join this forum. Every time I searched for issues/ideas, it seemed like I’d end up reading something from here anyway. The more I learn, the more I realize how much of a mess I really have. And how much faster my pockets empty!!
So where the title of this build thread comes into play, is I’m thinking about doing a complete overhaul. its going to take awhile and will be a process, but where is a better place to keep it logged? Due to my ignorance, I feel like I’ve probably got so much money wrapped up in this thing, that I’ll never come close to getting it back. So it’s become part of the forever family. Any suggestions, or critiques, or advice is welcomed. I’m just glad to be in seemingly good company, with a lot of knowledgeable folks! So let me thank you all in advance!
In a nut shell, my future plans consist of the following:
- JB Conversions SS SYE and a Woods or Adams DC shaft. Going to install the UCF high clearance skid at the same time as well as savvy TC cable shifter.
-Currie adjustable control arms front and rear. Along with Currie adjustable rear track bar and relocation bracket.
-RGA super 35 kit with Eaton E-Locker. Along with 4.88 regear front and rear.
- chromoly shafts for the front Dana 30 and Warn manual lockouts. (Undecided if I want to lock the front).
- Black magic big brake kit.
- Currie antirock sway bar (front)
- HD rear sway bar.
- frame swap.
This is my Jeep story.
First, a bit of history. I bought my very first Jeep in 2012. It was a 1965 tuxedo park mark 4 cj5 mud buggie. 40” tires, 6” leaf over lift, ford 302 small block. Thing was a beast. I bought it to fix up and play with. Turned out to be more than I had time, money, or skills for. I decided to sell it, and I’d buy something a bit newer and street worthy.
I looked around for awhile, and the YJ’s seemed a bit more inside my budget. So I waited... and saved my money lol! Why they designed a Jeep with those hideous square headlights are beyond me
Fast forward to mid 2015, I finally gathered the funds for my first TJ. 3” lift, 33” tires. Didn’t have it long enough to learn a damn thing about it. 3 months go by, rolled it going down the highway. Totaled it.
About a year later (2016) I decided it was time to try again. Searched for awhile. I knew I wanted something already lifted, with good tires, and as low miles as I could get for my budget. As this would also serve as my DD. After watching relentlessly on my local Craigslist, this Jeep seemed to be the “the one”. Plus it had EVERYTHING I was concerned with as a newbie. New wheels with new 35’s, new 4” lift, newer soft top, no “pep boys” mods. Stretched my budget and came up with $9,500 cold hard cash ( thats quite a feat for a floor covering installer in just a few months). Drove the 4 1/2 hours to look at it. By my “supreme rookie Jeep knowledge” it was perfect!! Shiny new wheels and tires. Tub was in great shape except in two small places, and center body mount channels were starting to go. Nothing too serious. Rear corner and passenger rocker panel had a touch of rust and a couple tiny bubbles in the paint. SOLD!!
little clean up after a new radiator.
Over the next couple of years I didn’t do much to it. Just regular maintince and drove the wheels off it. I didn’t do any off-roading to speak of. Some service trails, putting through the woods on a friends property, and of course playing in the winter snow.
Even to my rookie knowledge, it was not ready to be off-road yet. No recovery points, no winch, ect ect. The only thing I had done this far is a new knock off bumper. I internally wired the factory fog lights into the bumper to keep the look clean.
Even my pooch battled me for the driver seat.
Then one day it begins... the point where you start finding out that you should do your homework before buying something totally different than what your used to.
I hear a strange clunking noise Every time I hit a small bump. What could that be I wonder? Crawl under it
rear lower control arm frame bracket rotted off. Immediately, I take it to a local fab shop (friend of mine) to have it welded back together. Shop welds it, and tells me, my frame is getting pretty thin back there, but he got it to hold well enough to get by for awhile. “May last 6 months or 2 years”, he tells me. Basically, your living on borrowed time.Not heeding the seemingly obvious warning, I continue to drive it. About a year later this:
So I take it back to the same shop. Tells me he would fix the frame for cheap. 3/16” steel would be used. It wouldnt be perfect but it would be a good enough patch to last until I decided to put a new frame under it. Quickie slickie kind of thing. It wouldn’t be the prettiest frame ever, but it would be solid. Sounded good to me.
I get it back from the shop, and I start spending money. I figured first up, let’s get the rain back outside. New Bestop Trecktop NX
Next up is to deal with the awful bumpsteer. So a stock pitman arm to replace the drop pitman arm, Currie Currectlync, and Currie adjustable track bar were next.
Bumpsteer cured!
Next on my list was to break out the angle grinder and wire wheel. The frame is now solid again, better give her some protection!
Along with all new ball joints, motor mounts, transmission mount, and a new set of 4 Rancho 5000x shocks. This is where she sits today.
A couple months ago I decided to join this forum. Every time I searched for issues/ideas, it seemed like I’d end up reading something from here anyway. The more I learn, the more I realize how much of a mess I really have. And how much faster my pockets empty!!
So where the title of this build thread comes into play, is I’m thinking about doing a complete overhaul. its going to take awhile and will be a process, but where is a better place to keep it logged? Due to my ignorance, I feel like I’ve probably got so much money wrapped up in this thing, that I’ll never come close to getting it back. So it’s become part of the forever family. Any suggestions, or critiques, or advice is welcomed. I’m just glad to be in seemingly good company, with a lot of knowledgeable folks! So let me thank you all in advance!
In a nut shell, my future plans consist of the following:
- JB Conversions SS SYE and a Woods or Adams DC shaft. Going to install the UCF high clearance skid at the same time as well as savvy TC cable shifter.
-Currie adjustable control arms front and rear. Along with Currie adjustable rear track bar and relocation bracket.
-RGA super 35 kit with Eaton E-Locker. Along with 4.88 regear front and rear.
- chromoly shafts for the front Dana 30 and Warn manual lockouts. (Undecided if I want to lock the front).
- Black magic big brake kit.
- Currie antirock sway bar (front)
- HD rear sway bar.
- frame swap.
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